El Dorado Kitchen’s new chef: Armando Navarro

In Sonoma, El Dorado Kitchen has named the chef successor to Justin Everett, who left earlier this year to take over Sausalito’s Murray Circle. The new executive chef is Armando Navarro.

Here’s his background: Navarro comes to Sonoma from Vail, Colorado, where he most recently spent the last three years as executive chef at Larkspur Restaurant.

But he’s got plenty of Bay Area experience. Back in the day, he spent five years as executive sous chef at Auberge du Soleil, and then put in time at Jardiniere and Masa’s, before becoming chef de cuisine for Richard Reddington at Redd.

He’s revamped the menus (see dinner here) and will offer a five-course tasting menu as well. Navarro is also doing the food for the hotel’s new “European style café”, the Corner Café, where he’s offering small bites like duck wings and egg pizzas.

Last but not least, El Dorado Kitchen has also hired a new General Manager: Treg Finney.